JLPT · Level 4
74 words
Japanese word
お先に
Pronunciation
Romajiosakini
Meaning
- adverbbefore you
Example
皆さんよりお先に失礼します。mina sa n yo ri o saki ni shitsu rei shi ma su
I will leave before everyone else.
More examples
料理が冷めないうちに、お先にいただきます。ryō ri ga sa me na i u chi ni o saki ni i ta da ki ma su
I will start eating before the others so the food does not get cold.
Core concept
Shows that someone does something before others, with the sense of moving ahead of them in an orderly or polite way.
Common phrases
お先にどうぞo saki ni dō zo
Please go ahead
お先に失礼しますo saki ni shitsu rei shi ma su
I will leave before everyone else
お先にいただきますo saki ni i ta da ki ma su
I will start eating before everyone else
Similar words
先にsakini: Doing something before another person or group does it.
Definition in Japanese
他の人に先立って何かをする意を表す。hoka no hito ni saki da tte nan ka o su ru i o arawa su
Word origin
お先に (osaki ni) is formed from お (o), a polite prefix, 先 (saki, "ahead"), and に (ni), which makes the phrase adverbial.
Usage tips
- In workplace Japanese, お先に失礼します (osaki ni shitsurei shimasu) politely marks an employee's departure before other employees.
Other meanings
- firstadverb